Katsuren Castle Ruins
勝連城跡
A World Heritage castle ruin on a hilltop of Katsuren Peninsula, with stepped walls that rise higher and higher; from the top you get a 360-degree view of Nakagusuku Bay and the Kaichū Road.
Katsuren Castle was the residence of the 15th-century lord Anji Amawari, who prospered through overseas trade, and it was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2000. The walls are arranged in steps along the rocky mountain, and the highest, Ichi-no-Kuruwa, sits about 100 meters above sea level. On clear days the view is superb, making it Okinawa's best spot for photographing curving walls against the blue sea. Admission is 600 yen (including the exhibition hall in the rest house), open 9:00 to 18:00. It is about 1 hour from Naha and can be combined with Kaichū Road and Ikei Island for a half-day self-drive trip. The steps are steep, so take care on rainy days.
Opening hours
09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Kaichu Road & Seaside Station Ayahashi-kan
- Hamahiga Island
- Southeast Botanical Gardens
- Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
- Mihama American Village
- Yachimun no Sato (Yomitan Pottery Village)
- Cape Maeda (Blue Cave)
- Sefa-utaki